Wave-packet dynamics in the one-dimensional extended Hubbard model

Using the time-dependent density-matrix renormalization group, we study the time evolution of electronic wave packets in the one-dimensional extended Hubbard model with on-site and nearest-neighbor repulsion, U and V, respectively. As expected, the wave packets separate into spin-only and charge-only excitations (spin-charge separation). Charge and spin velocities exhibit nonmonotonic dependence on V. For small and intermediate values of V, both velocities increase with V. However, the charge velocity exhibits a stronger dependence than that of the spin, leading to a more pronounced spin-charge separation. Charge fractionalization, on the other hand, is weakly affected by V. The results are explained in terms of Luttinger liquid theory in the weak-coupling limit and an effective model in the strong-coupling regime.